Word: plummet (verb)

Associations

"Plummet" means to fall or drop straight down very quickly and suddenly. It is often used when talking about things going down fast, like prices, temperatures, or objects falling from a height.

• The stock prices plummeted after the bad news. (Here, it means the prices dropped very fast.)
• The airplane plummeted toward the ground during the storm. (Here, it means the plane fell quickly.)
• Temperatures plummeted overnight, making it very cold in the morning. (Here, it means the temperature dropped a lot and fast.)

A similar word is "fall," but "plummet" usually means a faster and more sudden fall. "Fall" can be slow or fast, but "plummet" always suggests a steep, rapid drop.

Substitution

You can replace "plummet" with:

• "drop" (less strong, can be slow or fast)
• "sink" (usually slower, often used with water or prices)
• "dive" (also fast and sudden, often used for planes or prices) Changing the word changes how fast or dramatic the fall feels.

Deconstruction

The word "plummet" comes from the Old French word "plome," meaning "lead" (the metal). This is because a "plummet" was originally a lead weight used to measure depth in water (a plumb line). The idea is that the weight falls straight down quickly, so the verb "plummet" means to fall fast and straight down.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when something in your life "plummeted" suddenly? What was it?
• How is "plummet" different from just "fall" in the way it sounds or feels?
• Can "plummet" be used in a positive way, or is it always about something bad? Why?